San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-19

WIS good TO me long b siors You aud m g ch
"Your affectiona,c friend.
"SIBYL KENNEDY"
sibyl felt much happier when she had
posted this letter. She counted the days
which must elapse before she could get
Marks answer, counted them as she sat
for long hours by Lady Annals sick-bed,
doing her best TO cheer the stricken mo-
Their with repeated fond assurances Of her
faith in Mark Bretton's honor and in his
friendship for them both.
When the day arrived which she had
calculated would bring her his letter,
and the old postman never came mp
the drive at all, though she was disap.
pointed, the girl did not feel uneasy.
"Ii will come tomorrow, she thought
turning from the window Of the sick room
where she had been eagerly watching
for old Mathews. mark il a gentle
man; he will answer me one way or the
other"
And when the next day came and there
was still no letter. she made up her mind
that he was coming to see her instead Of
writing.
That afternoon, when Dixon came softly
in to call her, sibyl thought he had come.
Sibyl was Oh her knees before the fire.
adding little bits Of coal to it with her fin
gers, so as not to wake Lady Anna, who
had fallen into dozc.
ut is the Countess, my dear" said old
Dixon. in low voice "She has brought
her maid and an imperial"
Sibyl sighed.
"Another battle" she thought drearily.
"Oh. whom shall we be at peace againr
She stole away TO her own room to wash
her hands and TO look for mement or two
at Percivars portrait.
"They shall not force me to break my
promise, DEAR" she whispered. holding it
against her flushing cheek. There is no
one here but me to take your part, and
will fight for you against them all"
The Countess was knitting by the par
lor fire. She had taken of her bonnet
and made herself comfortable Her white
hair was covered with old yellow point
lace. her magnificent rings sparkled in the
freight as the long stocking grew on her
busy needles.
There you are, child, at lastr she said,
giving Sibyl one Of her wrinkled old
hands TO kiss. II began to think you
were afraid to face me-"
al have never been afraid to face any
one" returned Sibyl quietly. She looked
pale and worn from her watching, and she
held her fair head erect, aud looked her
opponent steadily in the eyes. 81 am
sorry could not wait ON your ladyship
sooner l was with aunt Anna when you
arrived"
1t seemed that Miss Kennedy had in
herited something of the family manner.
Nothing could well be less conciliating
than her tone or her carriage.
~ need not ask how my daughter is,'
said the Countess glowering at her over
her knitting.
~ am afraid,"-Sibyrs clear and steady
voice shook little now-'that she is
very i'll indeed"
~ dare say. She is not likely to be
much better, poor soul, as long as you
prefer your own maudln fancies to her
happiness and honor.
The battle had begun.
Aunt Anna does not think that Of me-"
the girl answered, fighting for self con-
troll. "She knows there is nothing in the
world that would not do for her that is
right"
"Ah"-the old woman broke into
scornful laugh-"there it is-of course!
That is rightp Can't you leave your
elders and betters, Miss Sibyl, to judge of
that for your"
IL am old enough to Judge for myself"
"Or you think you are! Well let us
waste no more time in bandying words. 1
am here to-day as q messenger from Mr..
Breton"
"Oh"-SibyPs face frightened eagerly
-"then he has had my letter, grand
mammal"
"He is staying at the Castle. But l
have no doubt his letters have been duly
forwarded from Wyndicote."
THE letter had as a matter of fact, been
burnt by the Countess herself, who had
distracted it from the lettcr-bag and fang
it unread into her dressing room fire.
She had no more compunction in de-
stroying it than if it had been a handful
Of withcTcd leaves; her conscience did
not trouble her in the slightest degree
now that the deed was accomplished
She would have read The letter also if she
had deemed it desirable to do so. But
she was convinced that she knew its con-
tents as well as if she had got them by
heart and that any such special pleading
should stand for one moment in the way
of "the family was in the Countess's
mind, a simple absurlity
Having told her lie to &ibyl with the
dpIOmsb of long habit, she went ON tran.
gully with her knitting, her rings scatter
ing sparks of many -colored light through
the dusky freshine.
"Why has not Mark answered met" de-
manded Sibyl abruptly.
II am here, you see, to do so for him."
Then he has not sent me a letter-he
is not comingf"
"How could you suppose such a thing
possible, my dear2"
A chill pang of disappointment struck
through the girls veins. She had been
craving-she knew it now--for a sight of
the kind face and clasp of the kind hand
in which she trusted so implicitly. A
10 Be Ctrtuued]
4 ANHGEh,